From the Commissioner
March 2008
Dear Friends,
With the famed National Cherry Blossom Festival underway, Washington, D.C. finally begins to bloom.
As spring colors increasingly dot the landscape, I continue to travel across the country to extend Hong Kong's circle of friends in the United States.
During a recent visit to Atlanta, I called on Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and updated him on the latest developments in Hong Kong, including the city's robust economic performance and budding trading opportunities between the territory and the state of Georgia, particularly in the logistics sector.
I was pleased to report on the fruitful and on-going exchange programs between universities in Hong Kong and higher-education institutions in Georgia which we hope to build on.
I also met with Commissioner Ken Stewart of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Mr. Stewart explained how the Peach State was expanding its port facilities, especially in Savannah and Brunswick. I took the opportunity to share with him Hong Kong's experience as one of the busiest container ports in the world.
Mr. Stewart remarked that research and development in biotechnology and the medical fields were key areas for Georgia's economic development. He highlighted the work of the Georgia Research Alliance, a state-funded entity tasked with fostering a technology-driven state economy by attracting eminent professionals in the areas of bio-science, life science and bio-fuels.
I conveyed our interest in establishing contact with the Alliance given Hong Kong's own initiatives in these areas.
Hong Kong's development into an international center of innovation and technology, particularly in biotechnology and life sciences, is bolstered by the establishment of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP). Part of HKSTP's mission is to foster partnerships and collaboration between industry and universities/applied research institutes.
While in Atlanta, I had an opportunity to meet with Mayor Shirley Franklin who expressed high regard for Hong Kong having gained insight into financial and urban planning from a trip to the city in 2006.
I provided Mayor Franklin with an update on Hong Kong developments, in particular Hong Kong's Research Endowment Fund, a new initiative launched by the Financial Secretary in February which encourages Hong Kong universities to search for collaboration opportunities in research and development with overseas universities.
During our discussion, I was pleased to note that Hong Kong enjoyed a close working relationship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hong Kong's own Centre for Health Protection stands on the frontlines in disease prevention and control. It is our hope to further enhance such critical partnerships given emerging global health challenges.
Of course my visit wasn't all business. To usher in the Chinese New Year, my colleagues and I hosted a reception for members of the city's business, legal, government and academic communities at Atlanta's acclaimed High Museum of Art.
Following the reception, guests attended a screening of Lee Kung-lok's endearing film, My Mother is a Belly Dancer.
The High Museum of Art is a remarkable achievement – both inside and out. The building, originally designed by Richard Meier and expanded on by Italian architect Renzo Piano, surely ranks among this nation's great museums of the 21st century.
With kind regards,
Margaret Fong
Hong Kong Commissioner, USA
HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
1520 18th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202)331-8947 Fax: (202)331-8958
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Copyright @ 2003, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington D.C.
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